The Department of Transportation (DOTr) yesterday signed up for the world’s first inter-region aviation cooperation agreement that is expected to strengthen connectivity and rebuild the economy in the Southeast Asian region.
DOTr Secretary Jaime Bautista was joined by other transport ministers in stamping their approval to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) and European Union Comprehensive Air Transport Agreement (CATA), and Asean agreement on Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue (SAR) cooperation, which were among the highlights of the 28th Asean Transport Ministers meeting in Bali, Indonesia.
Bautista expressed his support to the two agreements saying, “as a key player in the transport affairs of the Southeast Asian region, the Republic of the Philippines is supportive and is one with the other partner nations in pushing for agreements and areas of partnership that will further develop the region’s transportation potentials.”
The Asean-EU CATA “is the world’s first bloc-to-bloc air transport agreement” aimed at reinforcing connectivity and post-pandemic economic recovery of the 37-member states of the Asean and EU.
“This agreement will prove to be a game-changer as both Asean and EU countries slowly recover and rebuild from the effects of the pandemic. The agreement will have a profound impact in the areas of trade and tourism for Asean and the EU. The Asean-EU CATA will also rebuild air connectivity between Asean and Europe which was suddenly suspended by the pandemic,” Bautista said.
Leading the Philippine delegation, Bautista said the country stands to gain from the “information exchange and sharing of best practices” in the Asean agreement on aeronautical and maritime SAR cooperation.
In addition, Bautista stressed the Philippines’ push for agreements and areas of partnership that will further develop the region’s transportation potentials.
Bautista likewise expressed the Philippines’ support to other transport initiatives such as adoption of the Annual Priorities/Key Deliverables for 2023, the Asean Guidelines on Airport Environmental Management System, the Guiding Principles for the Regulation of Application-based Mobility services for passenger transport in Asean, and the implementation framework to enhance regional container circulation.
The Asean Transport Ministers Meeting, as the bloc’s highest transport body, provides an annual platform for transport leaders from Asean member states to discuss the priorities and initiatives to further bolster cooperation within the region and with dialogue partners.
